Jr. Starling “Jimmy” Hopkins

Starling James (Jimmy) Hopkins, Jr. 96, passed away on Friday, April 24, 2020 in Atlanta, GA. He was born on April 1, 1924 to Starling and Laura Anna Hopkins in Riverside, CA. He graduated from Polytechnic High School and briefly attended California Polytechnic State University in San Louis Obispo, CA. After World War II started, he decided to leave college and enlist in the United States Army on December 3, 1942 where he was trained as a radio repairman then sent to Italy to fight in the war.

During the Army’s “rest and recuperation” program for soldiers, Jimmy found himself in Kansas City, MO and attended a fellowship at Paseo Baptist Church where he met the love of his life, Bernice Cade. On August 17, 1946 he married Bernice and to their union eight children were born, James, Retha, Starling (Tony), Charles, Ann, David, Teresa (Terri), and Robert (Bobby). He worked several years for the United States Postal Service on Pershing Rd., ending his career as Superintendent of Mails Tour II. After retiring from the USPS, he went to work as Business Manager at Paseo Baptist Church and Carver Christian Academy. On May 14, 2004 Jimmy graduated from The Carver Baptist Bible College & Institute with an Associate of Arts Degree.

Jimmy accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at age 12 and was active at both Allen Chapel AME Church and Park Avenue Baptist Church in Riverside, CA. When he moved his family back to Kansas City, he became a member of Paseo Baptist Church and faithfully served in numerous ministries such as Chairman of the Deacon Board, Superintendent over the Sunday School and Baptist Training Union as well as a teacher, he served on the Sick and Shut-in and Church Anniversary committees, he sang in the Cathedral and Bereavement choirs, and many other church ministries.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years Bernice, his parents Mr. And Mrs. Starling Hopkins, Sr., two of his children, Charles Stanley Hopkins and Retha Bernice Hamlett and two brothers Lewis Bustos, and Leonard Hopkins.

He is survived by four sons, James Lee Hopkins (Mattie) of Florissant MO, Starling A Hopkins (Valerie) of Leawood, KS, David W Hopkins (Charlotte) of Mesa, AZ, Robert J Hopkins (Karen) of Charlotte, NC; two daughters, Ann E Findley of Kansas City, MO, Teresa Skepple (Roger) of Morrow, GA; one sister Laura F Williams(Joe) of Las Vegas, NV; two sisters in law, Betty Jean Foster of Moreno, CA and Marie Cade of Dallas, TX; twenty-five grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.